Mining machine head



April 22, 1952 c, COMPTQN 2,594,256

MINING MACHINE HEAD Filed Feb. 3 1951 INVENTOR Cbar/esECom afon Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,594,256 MINING MACHINE HEAD Charles E. Compton, Shinnston, W. Va. Application February 3, 1951, Serial No. 209,261

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a mining machine head. It relates particularly to a mining machine head of the type" comprising a rotatable and advanceable cutter element having a material passage therethrough extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation and having periphery cutting means mounted thereon at the forward end thereof and an inner element substantially coaxial with the cutter element and at least partially disposed therewithin and facing in the same direction, the inner element having inner cutting means mounted thereon at the forward end thereof.

Mining machine heads of the type above referred to are disclosed in my Patent-No. 2,562,841. Such heads have proven eminently satisfactory in the mining of coal. I obtain therewith unprecedented tonnage per man hour without undesirably breaking up the coal. The heads are of relatively simple construction and can be fabricated at low cost. Their upkeep cost is likewise low.

Coal in different localities varies in characteristics including hardness and structure. The heads disclosed in my said application are perfectly satisfactory for bituminous coal mined from the Pittsburgh seam in West Virginia. However, c'oalin other localities having different characteristics presents somewhat different problems. Relatively hard coal is more highly resistent to fracture by the breaker of my mining machine head. I have found that for some operations the inner element should be hollow. When the inner element is made hollow it provides a material passage therewithin entering the same at the forward end thereof into which passes some of the material of the body of material being operated upon. That material is preferably discharged from within the inner element into the material passage through the outer element. This may be provided for by making an opening in the wall of the inner element intersecting or communicating with the material passage therewithin so that the material received within the inner element passes rearwardly therein for a distance and then passes outwardly through the wall of the inner element into the material passage through the outer element. The inner element desirably has a wall inclined to its axis to insure breaking off of material entering the inner element forming partof the body of material being operated upon and projecting such material laterally out of the material passage in the inner element into the material passage in the outer element.

The inner element is preferably a cutter element having inner cutting means mounted thereon at the forward end thereof. It is also preferably abreaker small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by the inner cutting means but wider than that opening at its rearward end to break or fracture the material outside it. The breaker is preferably of a width approximating that of the opening formed by the inner cutting means at a zone not substantially in advance of the periphery cutting means. The breaker desirably has outwardly projecting rib means forming a generally spiral conveyor extending rearwardly and circuinferentially. That conveyor is of relatively coarse pitch with adjacent convolutions spaced apart to provide passage space therebetween of materially greater crosssectional area than the rib means, and the conveyor is desirably pitched and the passage spaced proportioned to the size of the inner cutting means so that the passage space accommodates and the conveyor conveys rearwardly substantially all of the cuttings formed by the inner cutting means which enter the passage space and the conveyor engages and propels rearwardly lumps of the material.

Also, for operating upon material of different characteristics the forward end of the inner element should be in different axial relationships to the forward end of the outer element. I have devised a construction of universal applicability in respect of the relationship between the forward ends of the inner and outer elements; I provide connecting means connecting the inner element with the outer element cooperable with. the elements when they are in different axial relationships to each other whereby the forward end of the inner element may be adjustably positioned relatively to the forward end of the outer element. Such construction is of great utility whether the inner element is a solid breaker as in my said patent or a hollow cutter element or a hollow breaker. In my presently preferred construction the inner element is a hollow breaker connected with the outer element by connecting means of the type above referred to.

I find it generally preferable to make the outer element in the form of a cylinder open at both ends. I also prefer to employ a rotatable and advanceable shaft which carries the inner and outer elements. Desirably the inner element telescopes either within or outside of the shaft, which is preferably hollow. The connecting means may be in the form of a bolt passing 56 through the inner element and the shaft. To

and advancing movement with the shaft and adapted to convey rearwardly about the shaft material entering the forward end of the conveyor. The outer element is preferably mounted upon the spiral conveyor for rotating and advancing movement with the shaft and spiral conveyor. Normally the forward end of the inner element and the forward end of the outer element are in approximately the same. transverse. plane but through the above mentioned connection the inner Y element may be moved either forwardly or rearwardly relatively to the outer element so that the forward end of the inner element may project forwardly of the forward end of the outer element or the forward end of the inner element may be disposed rearwardly of the forwardend of the outer element. When the inner element a breaker it should, as above mentioned, be of a width approximating that of the. opening formed by the inner cutting means at a zone not substantially in advance of the periphery cutting means. This enables the breaker-to act on and break up the material surrounding the breaker and disposed generallyv within the outer element which has been partially severed from the mass of material being operated upon by the periphery. cutting means mounted on e forw rd end. o hoioute e e ent- O h r etai s. obieot j nd; ad a or} the invention will become appar nt as t fo ow e o ih ioh. 9*:- ti 6533? Pre err d emb im n h r p oce ds- Ih' the oooomeahr hs drawihss ha e sh wn a Pis thi prefe red embodiment oi i sinven io in which Figure 1 is a perspective view with portions ou awa of a m nin ma hine head; i

F gu e 2 s hshd iowor the minin mach n head; sho n in. Figu e iesv viewed from, th f on nd th reo or enerally fr m the l ift htt ld end i w? s. Fi ure 1;

igure 3 i a perspecti e view of the inne slemoot o ho mach ne head shown in Fig- 11mg 1, and; 2; and.

F ur l is a centr l vertical l n itudinal crosse ional i w throu h the min ng machin head'- Rois t ns no m re parti ularly to t e d aw lo s. the mi in ma hi e head ho ntherein com r ses a shaf to s ral; conveyor 3 mounted on d disp ed a out the haft. 2. an outer cy-. i idr s c t el ment 4 mo nted onansl. carried by h s r l con ey 3. a d nne hollow b e k and t e elem ht oa -t d h he or;-

W d di f thosh f T y s aft U r f r bly hollow as shown and is of a. as to enable it to carry the load imposed in operation, Normally the diameter of the shaft 2 may range from 6" to 18 or-more depending on thesize of the min-. ing machine head. The spiral conveyor 3 may be an appropriately shaped metal plate welded to the outside of the shaft 2' so that when the shaft 2 is rotated and advanced the conveyor 3 conveys rear-wardly along and outside the shaft 2 material entering the conveyor at the front end thereof. The front end of; the conveyor termi tion.

nates within the outer element or cylinder 4, entering that cylinder far enough to enable the cylinder to be welded thereto throughout a' sufficient length of the conveyor to form a strong unitary'head comprising the shaft 2, the spiral conveyor 3 and the cylinder 4. The cylinder is preferably of such diameter that it fits snugly about the front end of the spiral conveyor 3, enabling it to be welded thereto. Thecylinder #3 forms a rotatable and advanceable outer cutter element having a material passage therethrough extending generally parallel to the axis of. rota- It has periphery cutting means mounted thereon at the forward end thereof. The periphery cutting means mounted on the forward end of the cylinder 4- are cutters 6, I and 8, the cutters 6 projecting somewhat outwardly from the outer surface of "the cylinder, the cutters 1 being disposed generally in the plane of the material of the cylinder and the cutters 8 projecting somewhat inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder. The cylinder 4 has spirally arranged rods 9 and ID welded to its outer and inner surfaces respectively to convey rearwardly any f ne ma; terial formed by the action of the cutters 6,1 and 8 and lying generally in the path of the cyli der as it rotates and advances into. the material being operated upon. The cutter element 4 is adapted to cut a generally cylindrical kerf in a body of material upon rotation and advancement thereof.

The inner element 5 is shown in perspective in Figure 3. It comprises a hollow cylindrical shank I! and a head !2 of somewhat greater diameterthan the shank II at its forward end tapering down to approximately the diameter of the shank I! at its rearward end where it is Welded to the shank as indicated at 25 toform a unitary structure. The shank IV I. is of such di ameter as to have a snug sliding f t within the hollow shaft 2. The shank I IV may be internally reinforced by welding or otherwise fasteningtherein adjacent the right-hand extremity there-I of Viewing Figures 3 and 4 a collar l3. Bolt retably fasten the inner element to the; shaft and;

hence to the outer'element 4. inasmuch as the outer element is rigid with respect to thejshafj.

A nut 20 is applied to the bolt I a-to; maintain the inner element firmly fastened to the; shaft. Thusthe bolt constitutes connecting me c 1 necting the inner element with theoute mentcooperable with the elements when they are different al e a on o eachothor. whe e: by the forward end of the innerelementmaybe adjustably positioned relatively. to theforward end of the outer element.

The forward end of the head 1:2 ofthe inner; element 5 is in the form of a hollow cylinder 113M: ing inner cutting means in the. form; of cutters 2|, 22 and 23 mounted thereon'at the forward extremity thereof. The cutters 2|. project some-. what outwardly from the outer surface of the, head E2, the cutters 22 are disposedgenerallyin the plane of the material ofthe head -2 and the ut e 23 pr t at. nw rdly rom. he. inner surface of the head. The head 1-2; has

spirally arranged ribs 24 welded to its outer surface. The ribs 24 are shown as forming a generally spiral conveyor on the outer surface of the head l2 of the inner element 5 extending rearwardly and circumferentially and also increasing in radial height from front to rear along the head [2. Thus the inner element 5 constitutes a hollow breaker coaxial with the outer element 4 and connected therewith and having inner cutting means mounted on the forward end thereof, the hollow breaker being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by the inner cutting means but being wider than that opening. at itsrearward end by reason of the gradually increasing height of the spiral ribs 24. Preferably the hollow breaker at a zone not substantially in advance of the periphery cutting means 6, l and 8 is of a width approximating that of the opening formed by the inner cutting means 2|, 22 and 23 so that the inner element acts as abreaker as above mentioned.

The inner element 5 has a material passage therewithin entering the same at the forward endthereof. The passage is indicated by reference numeral 26. The passage 26 communicates with the material passage through the cylinder 4 rearwardly of the forward end of the head l2. An opening 21 is formed through the wall of the head 12 to form a passage communicating between the passage 26 and the material passage inside the cylinder 4. The head l2 also has a wall 28 consisting of a heavy plate welded in place as shown and inclined to the axis of the head to insure breaking off of material entering the passage 26 forming part of the larger body of material being mined and projecting such material laterally out of the inner element 5 through the opening 21 into the material passage in the cylinder 4. The radial depth of the opening 2'! is, as shown in Figure 4, somewhat greater than the radius of the forward end of the head 12 of the inner element 5. The wall 28 is shown as being both radially and circumferentially inclined to insure breaking off of any material within the inner element 5 which may tend to adhere to the mass of material being operated on and forceably ejecting the broken off material out of the inner element as the mining machine head advances and rotates.

The rods l0 welded to the inner surface of the cylinder 4 are relatively small and of generally round cross-section adjacent the forward end of the cylinder. These small round rods extend rearwardly within the cylinder from the forward end thereof generally in a relatively tight spiral to a point near the center of the opening 21 or near the center of the plate 28 at which point at least some of the small round rods change in shape to generally half-round or similar cross section and begin to increase in height radially of the cylinder as they extend rearwardly as clearly shown in Figure 4. The tapered rearward portions of the rods l0 extend rearwardly generally in a spiral of coarser pitch than the smaller round forward portions thereof, the rods at their rearward ends being of substantially the same pitch as the spiral conveyor 3 and one thereof forming substantially a forward extension of the spiral conveyor 3.

The tapered portions of the rods I0 attain at their rearward ends a radial height somewhat reater than the radial distance between the inside surface of the cylinder 4 and the inside of the kerf cut into the material being operated upon by the cutters G, 1 and 8. Thus if a portion of the material has not broken off from the main body of material by the time it strikes the enlarged rearward portions of the rods l0 that portion will be engaged and pressed inwardly there by to cause the same to break off from the main body of material before entering the spiral conveyor 3.

Similarly, the tapered spiral ribs 24 attain at their rearward ends a radial height materially greater than the radial distance between the outside surface of the forward end of the head l2 and the outside of the kerf cut into the material being operated upon by the cutters 2| 22 and 23 so that the ribs 24 act to expand and crack the material about the inner element 5. At the same time, however, the radial distance between the radially outward surfaces of the rearward ends of the ribs 24 and the radially inward surfaces of the radially opposed rods [0 is slightly less than the radial distance between the outside surface of the kerf cut by the cutters 2|, 22 and 23 and the inside surface of the kerf cut by the cutters 6, 1 and 8 so as to prevent jamming of the material between the rearward ends of the ribs 24 andthe radially opposed portions of the rods l0.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mining machine head comprising a rotatable and advanceable cutter element having a material passage therethrough and an annular rotatable and advanceable element substantially coaxial with and at least partially within said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular element having cutting means at the forward end thereof, said annular element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space therebetween of materially greater crosssectional area than said outwardly projecting means and said annular element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by said cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a breaker, said annular element having passage means therethrough topermit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of said annular element into the space within saidv cutter element.

2. A mining machine head comprising a rotatable and advanceable cutter element having a material passage therethrough and an annular rotatable and advanceable element substantially coaxial with and at least partially within said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular element having cutter means at the forward end thereof, said annular element having outwardly projecting rib means rearwardly of the forward end thereof forming a generally spiral conveyor of relatively coarse pitch extending rearwardly and ciroumferentially, adjacent convolutions of the conveyor being spaced apart to provide passage space therebetween of materially greater cross-sectional area than the rib means, and said annular element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by said cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of the rib means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a breaker, said annular element having passage means therethrough to permit material there.- within to pass generally transversely out of said annular element into the space within said cutter element.

3. A mining machine head comprising a rotatable and advanceable cutter element having. a

material passage therethrough, an annular roe tatable and advanceable element substantially coaxial with and at least partially within said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular element having cutting means at the forward end thereof, said annular element havingoutwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space therebetween of materially greater crosssectional area than said outwardly projectin means and said annular element being small; enough at its forward end to enter the opening, formed by said. cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means: of greatest transversedimensicn whereby to constitute a breaker, said annular elementv having. passage means therethrough to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of said annular element into the space withinsaid cutter element, and connecting means connecting said annular element to said cutter element cooperable with said elements when; they are in different relationships to each other in, the direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation whereby the forward end of said annular element may be adjustably positioned relatively to the forward end of said cutter element.

4. A mining machine head comprising a rotatable and advanceable shaft, a cutter element of greater diameter than the shaft and having a material passage therethrough connected with the shaft to rotate and advance therewith and an, annular element substantially coaxial witlrand at least partially within said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular: element being connected with the shaft to rotate and advance therewith, said annular element having cutting means at the forward. end there-- of, said annular element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly cf the forward end thereof providing passage space therebetween ofmaterially greater cross-sectional area than saidoutwardly projecting means and said annularthrough to permit material therewithin to pass;

generally transversely out of said annular element into the space within said. cutter element,

5. A mining machine head comprising 'azrota-table and advanceable shaft, a conveyor;- screwmounted on the shaft to convey'rearwardly ofthe,

shaft upon rotation thereof material entering: thescrew, a cutter elementcarried by the screw so that the shaft, screw and cutter element. form: a

rotatable. and advanceableunit, the cutter ele ment having a material passage therethrough,

communicating with the conveyor screw, and an annular element substantially coaxial with and at least partially within said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular element being connected with the shaft to rotate and advance therewith, said annular element having cutting means at the forward end thereof, said annular element having outwardly pro-' jecting ,means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space therebetween of materially greater cross-sectional area than said outwardly projecting means and said annular element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by said cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a breaker, said annular element having passage means therethrough to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of said annular element into the space within said cutter element whence the material is delivered rearwardly by said conveyor screw.

6. A mining machine head comprising a rotat-v able and advanceable cutter element havin a material passage therethrough, an annular rotatable" and advanceable element substantially coaxial with and at least partially within said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular element having cutting means at the forward end thereof, said annular element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space therebetween of materially greater cross-sectional area than said outwardly projecting means and said annular element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by said cutting means but being wider than that,

opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a breaker, said annular element having passage means therethrough to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of said annular element into the space within said cutter element, and means disposed generally within said annular element and extending generally transversely thereof to break off material withing said annular element whereafter said material passes through said passage means. 7

CHARLES E. COMPTON.

seamstress CITED The following references are of record in the I fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 7 110,742; German May 12,, 1900 1 ,445,085 Joy Feb. 13, 1923' 1,511,957 Freda Oct. 14, 1924 1,560,781 Hair et al. Nov. 10, 1925 1,572,386 Gates Feb. 9, 1926 1,634,869 Gartling July 5, 1927 1,805,899, Wright May 19, 1931 2,520,517 Taylor Aug. 29, 1950 2,562,841' Compton July 31, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Germany May 30, 1879 

